Machine for winding and transferring hanked material



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV- 25, 1969 H. F. HANscoM MACHINE FOR WINDING ANDTRANSFERRING HANKED MATERIAL Filed Sept.- 5. 1967 Nov. 25, 1969 H. F.HANscoM MACHINE FOR WINDING AND TRANSFERRING HANKED MATERIAL Filed Sept.5, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT-OR. F. HANsooM HARRIS ATTORNEYS "UnitedStates Patent 3,480 220 MACHINE FOR WINDIN AND TRANSFERRING HANKEDMATERIAL Harris F. Hanscom, Barrington, RJ., assignor to H. F.

Hanscom & Company, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Sept. 5,1967, Ser. No. 665,421 Int. Cl. B65h 67/ 04 U.S. Cl. 242-53 6 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A winding and transfer means having a pair ofgrasping lingers mounted on an arm which is vertically reciprocable andangularly rotatable between a winding turntable and a wrapping station.

Background of the invention In the prior `art there are variousmechanisms which are 'adapted to pick up an article and to move it toanother station, Many of the prior art devices lack universalapplication to a variety of articles since they are not arranged in amanner whereby the article may in effect be lifted out of a containerand completely clear thereof and then angular- 1y rotated -to anotherstation for further processing. The instant device achieves this result-with repeatability. Particularly in the wire industry the winding andtieing of cords has never been machine accomplished.

Summary A `device for winding and transferring particularly a hankedcord-like member that comprises a pick-up member that is movable betweena first winding station and a second wrapping station and which at eachstation reciprocates so that in the downward position will grasp thearticle and/ or release it as the case might be.

Description of the drawings Description o-f the preferred embodimentsThe transfer mechanism is basically mounted on platforms and 12 whichare held in spaced relationship. For convenience of illustration thereis shown 'mounted on the platform 12 a winding turntable 40 (FIG. 1)which is driven through a right angular drive means 50 that in turn iscoupled back to motor 13 via a shaft 21 and drive means 18, shaft 21having included along its length a clutch engaging means 22 and a brake52. Motive power for operating the transfer mechanism is taken from themotor 13 by way of a belt 14 to the input shaft 15 of a combined clutchand brake unit 16. Within -the unit 16 there is contained anelectromagnetic brake and an electromagnetic clutch which performnormalfunctions attributable to these devices. The output of the clutch brakeunit as at 186 is coupled by a right angular drive (not shown) -to shaft184 which has mounted thereon a cam 182 that provides all of the motionsnecessary for the operation of the transfer mechanism.

3,480,220 Patented Nov. 25, 1969 "lee Description of transfer mechanismThe transfer mechanism of this invention briefly consists of graspinglingers which will pick up an article at a rst station, such as on aturntable 40 and move it to another or second station such as wrappingstation 220 (FIG. 6) that is angularly related to the lirst station. Toachieve this result, an outer tubular shaft is received for rotativesupport in a bearing 121 that is mounted on the platform 12 and thisshaft extends downwardly through a second bearing support 122 onplatform 10 and terminates with a spur gear 123. On the upper end ofthis tubular shaft 120, there is lixedly attached a block-like member125 which has a pair of rollerfollowers 126 aixed thereto and internallyof the tubular shaft 120 there is slidab'ly received in suitablebushings not shown a post 128. The post 128 has an arm 129 affixed tothe upper end thereof as by a mounting block 130 land immediately belowthe mounting block there is also affixed an L-shaped camming bracket 132which has a T-shaped section 133 and an upper flat surface 134. The pairof roller followers 126 straddle the T-shaped section 133 and in thisfashion the post 128 and the shaft 120 are coupled together for rotarymovement but are adapted for relative reciprocation.

At the end of the arm 129 there is mounted a pair of brackets 136 which`carry mounting plates 137. At the lower end of each of the mountingplates 137 on pivots 138, a pair of scissor-like arms 139, are mounted,arms 139 having operating rods 141 coupled thereto while arms 140 haveoperating rods 142 coupled thereto. The two operating rods 141 and 142are connected to a cross head 145 which is provided with reduced endssuch as 146 that ride in slots 147 against the pressure of compressionsprings 148 in the containers 136. To actuate the arms 139, 140, thecross head 145 is coupled through a post 149 (FIG. 2) to a crank arm 150which in turn is coupled to a primary operating crank arm assembly 152by a coupling rod 153. The arm assembly 152 is pivoted by a pin 154 toan extension of the block 130. The portion 155 of assembly 152 carriesat its end a roller 156 and is provided intermediate thereof with alatching pin 157. A latch means is pivoted Vas at 161 to the bracket 132and has a latching surface 163 upon which normally rests the latch pin157. The latching arm 160 is normally springbiased by a spring 165 inthe position as shown in FIG. 1, and in this position the crank armassembly 152 is held in a counterclockwise position which in turn holdsthe cross head 145 downwardly relative to the arm 129 so that thegrasping lingers 139, 140 are in an open position as shown in dottedlines in FIG. 3.

This mechanism that has been described so far is adapted to pick up anobject and then rotate through an arc depositing it at a wrappingstation for further processing. While by no means limited to an angularvariation of 90 the apparatus, however, has been illustrated and will bedescribed with that particular angular rotation in mind. The lower endof the post 128 (FIG. 3) is provided with a slotted collar which isconveniently held on the en-d of the post 128 by a pair of locking nuts171. Extending radially into the slot 173 in the collar 170 are pins 172attached to the yoke end 174 of lever 175 that is iixedly pivoted to themain platform 10 of the machine by a bracket 177.

A cam follower is mounted on the arm 175 as at 178, and this camfollower is adapted to ride in the cam groove of the cam 182 which camis adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow 183. Cam 182 ismounted on a shaft 184 which is driven through a series of gears toprovide `a right-angular drive in a manner Well known to those versed inthe machine art and is effectively coupled to the output shaft 186 ofthe combined clutch brake unit generally designated 16. Cam 182 is adouble faced cam and on the reverse side thereof as shown in dottedlines is another cam groove designated 188, and in this groove a camfollower 189 is received which follower is positioned on the end of abell crank 190 that is pivoted to a support bracket 191 as at 192. Theother end of the bell crank has coupled thereto a rack 194 which rack isslidably guided in blocks 195 so as to engage the pinion 123 on shaft120.

Assuming that the device is ready for operation and the main switch 100(FIG. 5) is closed, energizing the motor 13, depressing switch contact200 will close the circuit through a relay coil 201 and the normallyenergized brake coil 202 which is energized through normally closedcontactor 203 will be opened, while contactor 204 will energize clutchcoil 205, coils 202 and 205 being located within the clutch brake unit16. This will then apply rotative power to the shaft 186 and the cam 182will begin to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings.The first operation desired is the descending of the gripping fingers topick up the article, and no rotative movement of the arm 129 is desired.To insure that no rotative movement occurs, a brake 206 of anelectromagnetic type is mounted on the tubular shaft 120 and the camslot 188 is designed in such a way that the cam follower 189 will befollowing in a circular path during the initial rotary movement. Lever175 is brought downwardly by the action of the cam follower 178 beingbrought close to the rotative center of the cam, and this pulls the post128 downwardly and all of the arms that are mounted thereon. At thebottom of the grasping stroke of the post 128, the bell crank latchingarm 160 will be engaged by a fixed pin or tripping means 207 (FIGS. 1and 2) which is mounted on a post 212. This rocks the bell crank 160releasing the latching pin 157 from its latching shelf 163, therebyallowing `compression springs 148 to close the grasping fingers 139 and140 about the article to be picked up. As the cam 182 continues torotate, the follower 178 will come out of the depression in the camgroove 180 and will raise the post 128 to its full upward travel.

During the preceding operation the brake 206 has been engaged asnormally closed switch contact 210l has maintained that condition. Thereis provided, however, on the surface of the cam 182 a switch operatingprotrusion 211 which now opens the contact 210 deactivating the brake206 for rotation of arm 129. At this point of rotation of the cam 182,the follower 189 begins to move radially inward of the cam 182 in itsgroove 188. This rocks the bell crank 190 and reciprocates the rack 194which in turn rotates the spur gear 123 and the shaft 120 apredetermined angular amount which in the present instance is shown as90 in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Protrusion 211 on the cam 182 disengagesfrom switch 210 closing the switch and engaging the brake preferably afew degrees ahead of the desired stopping point so as to providerotational inertia braking and again the cam follower 178 is in aposition to bring the post 128 downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 3. Whenthe post approaches the bottom of its travel, the roller 156 on theportion 155 of assembly 152 (see FIG. 4) engages a fixed post 212,rocking the arm 152 counterclockwise and in turn moving the graspinglingers 139, 140 to an open position as the cross head 145 movesdownwardly against the pressure of compression springs 148. The articlegrasped is thus released into Wrapping station 220 (FIG. 6). Tensionspring 165 places the latching edge under pin 157 so that the parts arenow reset into the position that is shown in FIG. 1. The cam 182 isstill rotating, and at the proper point in its operation, the cam 214re-engages the switch contactor 210 and releases the brake 206, and thecam follower 189 will now move radially outward of the cam 182 followingin its cam slot 188 sliding the rack 194 to the left as viewed in FIG. 3and rotate the shaft 120 back to its original angular position asillustrated in FIG. 1, the pin 214 disengaging the switch `Contact 210vla few degrees before the stop position is reached to again absorb theinertia of rotation. Through timing means connected to the motor drive,the main start switch 200 is disengaged and the entire cycle is stoppedwith the contactor 203 energizing the brake coil 202 of the clutch brakeunit 16, while at the same time declutching by removal of power from theclutch coil 205.

I claim:

1. A device for hanking a cord-like member comprising in combination awinding means having a pair of posts about which the cord-like member iswound, a wrapping station, a transfer means movable between the windingmeans and the wrapping station, said transfer means having an armrotatable in an arc, grasping lingers pivotally mounted adjacent the endof said arm, an operating linkage for said fingers, spring meansnormally urging said fingers to closed position, latch means holdingsaid fingers in open position, said arm being vertically mounted forreciprocation downward into gripping position, means for reciprocatingsaid arm downwardly and upwardly, trip rrieans, said trip means engagingsaid lach on downward movement of said arm to close said fingers, meansrotating said arm in an arc, said arm rotating in an arc in timedsequence yafter completion of upward movement to a second position, saidreciprocating means moving said arm downwardly, abutment means, saidoperating linkage for said fingers engaging said abutment means to openthe fingers and permit the latch means to relatch, said arm movingupwardly and arcuately to initial position.

2. A device for hanking a cord-like member comprising in combination awinding means having a pair of posts about which the cord-like member iswound, a wrapping station, a transfer means movable between the Windingmeans and the wrapping station, said transfer means having an armrotatable in an arc, said arm mounted on a post, said post receivedwithin a tubular shaft, said shaft having a gear affixed thereto, rackmeans, said rack means engaging said gear, said post having a levercoupled to one end thereof, said arm coupled to the other end of saidpost, means coupling said post and shaft together for rotary movementand for relative reciprocating movement, gripping lingers pivotallymounted adjacent the end of said arm, an operating linkage for saidfingers, spring means normally urging said lingers to closed position,latch means coupled to said operating linkage for holding said fingersin open position, means for moving said lever whereby said post and armare reciprocated downward into gripping position, means on said shaftfor engaging said latch on downward movement of said post to trip saidlatch and close said fingers, said lever actuating means causing saidpost to move upwardly, rack operating means being actuated in timedsequence with said lever actuating means to reciprocate said rack aftercompletion of upward movement of said post and cause said post and shaftto move in an arc to a second position, said lever actuating meansoperating in timed sequence to said rack operating means to cause saidpost to reciprocate downward, abutment means, said operating linkage forsaid fingers engaging said abutment means on completion of downwardmovement of said post to open said lingers and permit the latch means torelatch, said lever actuating means moving said post upwardly and saidrack operating means moving in timed relationship to return said shaftand post to initial position.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said lever actuating means and saidrack operating means are commonly coupled cams.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein brake means are located on saidtubular shaft and are operated in timed sequence by said common cammeans.

5. An article transfer means having an arm rotatable in an arc, graspingfingers pivotally mounted adjacent the end .of said arm, an operatinglinkage for said fingers, spring means normally urging said fingers toclosed position, latch means holding said fingers in open position, saidarm being vertically reciprocable downward into gripping position,downwardly and upwardly; trip means engaging said latch on downwardmovement of said arm to close said fingers, means rotating said arm inan arc, said arm rotating in timed sequence after completion of upwardmovement to a second position, said reciprocating means moving said armdownwardly, abutment means, said operating linkage for said lingersengaging said abutment means to open the lingers and permit the latchmeans to relatch, said arm moving upwardly and arcuately to initialposition.

6. An article transfer means having an arm rotatable in an arc, said armmounted on a post, said post received within a tubular shaft, said shafthaving a gear afxed thereto, rack means, said rack means engaging saidgear, said post having a lever coupled to one end thereof, said armcoupled to the other end of said post, means coupling said post andshaft together for rotary movement and for relative reciprocatingmovement, gripping fingers pivotally mounted adjacent the end of saidarm, an operating linkage for said fingers, spring means normally urgingsaid fingers to closed position, latch means coupled to said operatinglinkage for holding said fingers in open position, means for moving saidlever whereby said post and arm are reciprocated downward into grippingposition, means on said shaft for engaging said latch on downwa-rdmovement of said post to trip said latch and close said fingers, saidlever actuating means causing said post to move upwardly, rackopera-ting means being actuated in timed sequence with said leveractuating means to reciprocate said rack after completion of upwardmovement of said post and cause said post and shaft to move in an arc toa second position, said lever actuating means operating in timedsequence to said rack operating means to cause said post to reciprocatedownward, abutment means, said operating linkage for said 4fingersengaging said abutment means on completionof downward movement of saidpost to open said lingers and permit the latch means to relatch, saidlever actuating means moving said post upwardly and said rack operatingmeans moving in timed relationship to return said shaft and post toinitial position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,641 7/1930 Lamb. 2,204,8696/1940 Schenck 242-53 2,933,205 4/1960 MacDonald et al.

NATHAN L. MINTZ, Primary Examiner

